Aberdeen gymnast has left mark on Central program

February 09, 2009|BY DEB SMITH, dsmith@aberdeennews.com

After six seasons on the varsity, an Aberdeen gymnast will leave her footprints behind when she completes her high school career. Adrianne Skaggs, 18, will graduate from Aberdeen Central this spring after lettering in gymnastics from seventh grade through her senior year and qualifying for the state tournament since eighth grade. She started in the sport even earlier than that. “I was four and we had just moved to Aberdeen,” said Skaggs. “Mom wanted to get me into something with kids my own age and that would get rid of some energy.” After moves to Texas, California and Iowa, the Madolin and Jim Skaggs family settled in Aberdeen and Adrianne became involved in gymnastics through the Aberdeen Gymnastics Association and a Junior Olympic program in Watertown. “When I got to age eight, my family made the decision to take me to Watertown. It was something I could pursue and be good at. As a seventh grader, it was so exciting to make the varsity right away,” she said. Skaggs enjoys the challenge in gymnastics where you can add more and more difficult skills. “In gymnastics, there is always something else you can do to go a step further,” she said. “You can go to another skill and work and get better.” Skaggs, who also helps coach in the AGA program, is highly regarded by her high school coach. “Adrianne's greatest attributes are that she listens, understands and then puts what she is told to practice,” said Aberdeen gymnastics coach Jen Deutsch. “She fixes her form and takes directions extremely well. She has a natural talent and is in the gym constantly.” Skaggs' signature move includes two consecutive giant swings on the top bar of the uneven bars, her favorite event. She started practicing it as a seventh grader and competed with it a year later. Her bars routine has a beginning score of 9.8, a high degree of difficulty. Skaggs holds school records in the bars (9.3), balance beam (9.15) and all around (36.325). She also served as a team captain this season. “Adrianne relates to her teammates very well and is a natural leader for the team in and out of the gym,” said Deutsch. “I have coached Adrianne for about eight years and she will truly be missed by anyone that has had the chance to come into contact with her through the sport of gymnastics.” When Adrianne heads off to college next fall, she will also be leaving remnants of her footprints behind at home. “To this day, my dad cannot fix our living room ceiling fan,” said Skaggs. “I would do flips and hit it with my foot. It still flickers on and off.” The Adrianne Skaggs File Family: Parents, Madolin and Jim Skaggs; sister Helena (16) and brother Jayme (13). Other sports: Track and field. Future plans: Attend the University of Sioux Falls on a track scholarship and major in exercise science. Favorite athletes: United States Olympic gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin. Best athletic memory: Finishing first on the uneven bars at the region meet last year.